A Sketch  of  the  Life  and 
Work  of  William  P. 
Pressly  of  Monmouth,  III. 


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WILLIAM  P.  PRESSLY. 


William  Patterson  Pressly  was  born  in  the  Abbeyville  dis- 
trict, South  Carolina,  March  17,  1811.  His  parents,  David  Press- 
ly and  Jane  Patterson  Pressly  were  natives  of  Ireland.  They 
came  to  America  in  their  early  youth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest  of  seven  chil- 
dren. Dr.  John  Taylor  Pressly  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  for  many  years  a noble  leader  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  was  one  of  his  brothers.  The  death 
of  their  father  occurred  when  William  was  only  .five  years  old. 
He  went  to  Oxford,  Ohio,  in  his  youth,  and  for  a time  attended 
Miami  University,  without  completing  the  course  of  study  there. 

When  he  was  of  age  he  bought  a farm  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  a farmer.  Then  began  his 
merchantile  life.  He  was  in  business  in  Ohio  at  Hamilton,  at 
Oxford  and  at  Fair  Haven. 

In  the  year  1859  he  moved  to  Monmouth,  Ilinois.  For  one 
year  he  farmed,  then  he  opened  a dry  goods  store  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  Public  Square.  In  the  year  1870  he  rented 
one  of  the  business  rooms  in  the  library  building  erected  by  him- 
self. 

He  continued  there  in  business  till  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  retire.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  able  to  go  about 
to  see  his  friends  and  to  enjoy  a well-earned  rest.  During  the 
_ last  two  years  of  his  life  he  was  confined  to  the  house.  He  died 
April  29th,  1905,  being  over  ninety-four  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Pressly  was  married  in  1833  to  Miss  Mary  Gilmore 
of  Preble  county,  Ohio.  She  died  without  children  in  1836. 
After  two  years  he  was  married  to  Miss  Martha  Miller  of  Rock' 


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bridge  county,  Virginia.  To  them  were  born  four  children.  Of 
these,  Virginia  died  in  infancy,  Sarah  when  a very  young  woman, 
Mary  Jane  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  The  latter  was  a teacher 
in  Monmouth  College  for  a year  or  two  before  her  death.  Henry 
K.,  the  only  son,  gave  his  life  for  his  country  before  Vicksburg  in 
1863.  He  was  a young  man  of  high  character  and  fine  ability. 

During  all  his  life  Mr.  Pressly  gave  freely  to  those  in 
need  and  to  deserving  objects.  No  one  can  say  how  much  he 
did  in  this  way.  It  was  done  without  display. 

When  his  children  passed  away,  one  after  another,  he  de- 
termined to  be 


HIS  OWN  EXECUTOR 

and  to  make  humanity  his  heir.  Prospered  in  business  he  again 
and  again  gave  half  of  all  he  owned  to  some  good  and  useful 
object. 

At  an  early  date  in  the  history  of  the  them  struggling 
Monmouth  College,  he  deeded  to  it  seven  hundred  acres  of 
choice  Iowa  lands.  This  was  at  once  sold  for  about  $5,000.  In  a 
few  years  it  was  worth  far  more.  But  even  at  that  price,  it  was 
the  largest  gift  given  to  the  college  by  any  United  Presbyterian 
during  the  first  twenty-five  years  of  its  existence.  In  giving  this 
the  donor  gave  one-half  of  what  he  then  possessed.  And  the 
same  was  true  of  each  of  the  large  gifts  made  by  him  at  later 
dates. 

In  1870  Mr.  Pressly  built  and  gave  to  the  community  at 
large,  the  library  building  located  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  Public  Square  in  Monmouth.  This  gift  included  income  to 
sustain  the  building  and  to  buy  books. 

Two  years  later  he  began  his  benefactions  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  missionary  schools  in  Assuit,  Egypt,  with  a gift 
of  $10,000  for  a boys’  school.  In  1881  he  gave  again  $10,000 
for  a girls’  school  there. 

When  the  library  building  erected  by  him  became  crowd- 
ed with  books,  he  enlarged  it  by  an  addition  to  the  west  and  in- 
creased the  grounds  by  buying  a lot  to  the  south. 

From  time  to  time  he  continued  to  give  as  he  acquired 


means.  In  this  way  he  has  given  in  all  about  $25,000  to  the 
Egyptian  mission  and  about  $25,000  to  the  Warren  county  li- 
brary. 

He  often  spoke  of  these  as  the  twin  objects  of  his  affec- 
tion. His  will  divides  equally  between  these  two,  what  little  he 
reserved  for  his  own  simple  needs.  The  will  was  drawn  four- 
teen years  before  his  death.  It  is  in  his  own  handwriting. 

These  large  gifts  have  been  productice  property.  The 
income  has  more  than  doubled  what  he  gave.  The  rents  of 
“The  W.  P.  Pressly  foundation”  have  kept  up  the  library  build- 
ing and  have  bought  19,000  of  the  22,500  volumes  on  the  shelves 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Pressly ’s  large  hearted  philanthropy  included  both 
the  church  and  the  community.  He  was  devotedly  attached  to 
the  church  of  his  fathers,  the  United  Presbyterian.  He  gave 
largely  to  its  College  and  to  its  Missions.  He  was  a public  spirit- 
ed citizen  of  Monmouth.  He  had  lived  and  prospered  here.  His 
customers  were  from  all  classes  and  from  the  farms  all  over  the 
surrounding  country.  He  wished  to  return  to  those  from  whom 
he  had  received.  To  do  this  he  founded  the  popular  depart- 
ment of  the  Warren  county  library.  He  built  and  gave  the 
first  building  erected  in  Illinois,  as  a People’s  library.  This  he 
did  before  Chicago  had  its  Public  Library,  or  its  Newberry 
or  its  John  Crerar.  No  such  gift  had  then  been  given  by  Mr. 
Carnegie  in  this  state  or  elsewhere. 

THE  WARREN  COUNTY  LIBRARY. 

The  reports  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education  give  the 
dates  of  origin  of  Illinois  public  libraries  and  note  which  ones 
own  buildings.  The  only  Illinois  library  for  general  use  existing 
before  1870  and  now  owning  its  building,  is  the  one  at  Alton. 

The  librarian  at  Alton,  Miss  Dolber,  kindly  furnishes  the 
following  information:  “Mr.  John  Hayner  built  our  library  in 
memory  of  his  wife  and  gave  it  to  our  association  in  ]8?0.” 

Such  gifts  are  now  a common  mode  of  perpetuating  a 
name  and  benefiting  a community.  But  the  first  such  building 
in  this  state  bears  the  name  of  W.  P.  Pressly,  and  it  will  continue 


6 


to  bear  aloft  his  name.  That  building  will  be  retained  for  reven- 
ue to  sustain  the  library  and  will  be  a memorial  of  the  donor. 
Such  was  the  action  of  the  Warren  County  Library  and  Reading 
Room  Association,  when  it  was  determined  that  a new  building, 
hereafter  to  be  erected,  must  be  in  another  location,  where 
there  is  not  the  great  danger  of  destruction  by  fire  that  there 
is  in  the  present  site. 

It  is  proper  in  this  connection  that  Mr.  Pressly’s  inten- 
tions in  what  he  did  for  the  library  be  put  on  record.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  holds  in  trust  property  given  by  him  for  cer- 
tain purposes.  It  is  required  of  the  corporation  to  carry  out 
the  intentions  of  those  who  give.  The  remarkable  success 
which  has  attended  the  institution  has  been  due  fully  as  much 
to  the  practical  ideas  given  to  it  as  to  the  financial  help  received. 

Mr.  Pressly  made  the  country  as  well  as  the  city  the  con- 
stituency of  this  institution.  It  was  his  idea  that  a library  need- 
ed for  large  usefulness,  a larger  population  than  that  of  Mon- 
mouth, just  as  our  merchants  need  the  country  trade. 

He  knew  that  what  he  could  give  would  not  produce 
income  enough  to  buy  all  needed  books.  He  stated  that  he 
wished  to  furnish  out  of  his  money  that  which  would  be  widely 
read.  ‘ ‘ I have  kept  goods  which  had  a quick  sale.  My  stock  was 
sold  out  on  an  average  every  three  months.”  These  were  his 
words  in  expressing  his  wishes  on  this  subject.  He  wished  his 
benevolence  to  reach  the  largest  number  possible,  as  he  had 
wished  for  many  customers  in  his  business. 

It  was  his  purpose  to  make  reading  attractive.  The  state- 
ment was  published,  coming  from  him:  “I  will  provide  for  the 
boys  a greater  attraction  than  the  billiard  rooms.”  And  on  an- 
other occasion  the  trustees  received  a hint  from  him  to  buy  more 
books  that  the  young  people  like.  He  said,  “Even  if  they  do 
read  about  bloody  Indians  it  is  better  than  running  the  streets.” 

The  great  usefulness  of  the  modern  public  library  has 
been  attained  by  such  practical  ideas  as  these,  not  by  an  ac- 
ademic indifference  to  popular  tastes  in  literature.  First  the 
many  are  provided  for,  then  special  classes  of  readers. 

In  this  way  has  been  built  up  in  Monmouth  a first  class 


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collection  of  books  for  the  purpose  intended  by  the  donor.  It 
was  the  estimate  of  Dr.  David  A.  Wallace,  published  by  him 
shortly  before  his  death,  “that  it  is  as  well  selected  a library 
as  any  in  the  west.”  This  is  the  repeated  statement  of  the 
catalogue  of  Monmouth  College  to  date. 

There  are  many  desirable  works  which  the  income  of 
the  “W.  P.  Pressly  foundation”  is  insufficient  to  supply.  That 
income  is  intended  to  meet  the  common  wants  of  all  readers.  It 
is  left  for  others  to  found  departments  for  the  advanced  needs 
of  this  and  that  class. 

Mr.  Pressly  had  a broad-minded  conception  of  the  large- 
ness of  the  undertaking.  This  library  is  in  time  to  provide 
freely  reading  for  young  and  old,  for  learned  and  ignorant,  for 
town  and  country. 

At  the  very  first  it  was  proposed  by  one  of  the  trustees 
to  call  it  the  Pressly  Library.  Mr.  Pressly  refused  to  allow 
this.  He  wished  credit  only  for  what  he  did.  He  did  not  wish 
to  monopolize  credit  for  what  he  felt  sure  would  in  time  be 
done  by  others.  He  spoke  of  all  that  he  did  as  only  caring  for 
the  infancy  of  the  institution,  saying,  “The  child  must  creep 
before  it  can  walk.” 

He  lived  to  see  some  of  this  expected  growth.  From 
Mr.  John  D.  Thompson,  from  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Simmons  and  from 
the  community  at  large  has  come  to  the  library  as  much  money 
as  all  that  Mr.  Pressly  gave  it.  And  what  has  been  received 
from  him  and  from  others  has  been  a natural  growth.  It  has 
not  come  by  begging.  Others  have  wished  of  their  own  accord 
to  have  their  names  identified  with  this  work.  Mr.  Pressly  very 
wisely  saw  to  it  that  this  is  not  a one-man  library  in  its  origin 
nor  a one-class  library  in  its  intent. 

His  conservative,  prudent  methods  have  been  impressed 
on  the  business  management  of  the  library.  It  has  lived  within 
its  means.  It  has  accumulated  funds.  The  gifts  received  have 
not  been  used  up.  They  have  been  increased.  From  the  yearly 
income  a surplus  is  continually  saved  to  invest.  Mr.  Pressly 
was  intensely  practical.  He  saw  to  it  that  this  gift  of  his  was 
managed  on  business  methods,  by  business  men.  The  money  has 


8 


been  used  to  furnish  what  is  absolutely  needed,  not  for  anything 
else.  Over  the  door  leading  to  the  reading  room,  the  donor  of  the 
building  had  placed  the  Latin  motto  of  the  Ohio  school  where 
he  once  was  a student,  “Prodesse,  quam  eonspici.” 

In  all  that  Mr.  Pressly  has  done  for  others,  at  home  and 
abroad,  he  acted  on  his  own  judgment  and  according  to  his  own 
lights.  lie  was  his  own  executor.  He  planned  his  philanthrophy 
with  rare  good  sense. 

MISSION  SCHOOLS  IN  EGYPT. 

He  gave  for  native  education  in  Egypt,  because  he  had  ob- 
served that  a German  clerk  could  sell  more  goods  to  Germans 
than  he  could.  He  thought  that  educated  natives  could  teach,  or 
preach,  or  conduct  the  affairs  of  government  with  most  success 
among  their  own  people.  He  gave  for  the  education  of  girls  in 
the  same  land  in  order  that  educated  men  might  have  suitable 
wives,  and  that  homes  might  be  purified  and  character  elevated 
by  mothers.  In  the  girls’  school  to  which  he  gave,  Miss  Martha 
J.  McKown,  formerly  of  Monmouth,  was  a devoted  worker. 

The  same  practical  common  sense  was  shown  in  what  he 
did  for  Monmouth.  In  1868  a public  reading  room,  supplied  only 
with  periodicals  was  opened  here.  This  was  organized  and 
helped  by  Judge  Quinby.  For  two  years  Mr.  Pressly  watched 
its  workings.  He  went  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  sat  for  a whole 
day  in  the  library  to  which  Senator  Grimes  had  recently  given 
$5,000.  His  wish  was  to  see  for  himself  what  a public  library 
is.  He  came  back  determined  that  Monmouth  shall  have  one. 

The  remarkable  success  of  these  well  planned  gifts  in 
Egypt  and  in  this  country  was  a great  satisfaction  to  Mr.  Press- 
ly. For  over  thirty  years  he  lived  to  enjoy  seeing  the  results 
of  what  he  had  done.  He  read  with  profound  gratitude  accounts 
of  the  immense  usefulness  of  the  Mission  Schools  which  he  had 
helped.  These  have  had  a remarkable  success.  They  have  been 
managed  with  great  ability  by  the  missionaries  o f the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  William  E.  Curtis  is  a most  competent 
judge  of  this  by  reason  of  his  training,  ability  and  wide  acquaint- 
ance with  foreign  affairs.  He  has  very  kindly  sent  on  for  use  in 


9 


this  sketch,  some  proof  sheets  of  his  book  on  Egypt,  now  in  press. 
From  it  the  following  extracts  are  taken.  They  refer  to  the 
schools  to  which  Mr.  Pressly  gave:  “The  American  school  at 
Assuit  educates  more  competent  teachers  than  any  other  insti- 
tution in  Egypt.  A great  deal  of  attention  is  paid  to  business 
and  industrial  training.  The  missionary  schools  for  boys  are 
popular  because  they  furnish  a better  education  than  can  be 
obtained  elsewhere.  Nearly  every  graduate  of  the  schools  main- 
tained by  the  American  United  Presbyterian  Mission  has  suc- 
ceded  in  securing  lucrative  employment  as  teacher  or  in  the  ad- 
ministrative departments  of  the  government. 

“Many  families  are  beginning  to  realize  that  it  is  an  advan- 
tage for  a girl  to  know  how  to  read  and  write  and  cipher.  She 
makes  a more  useful  wife  and  mother  and  a more  competent 
house-keeper.  This  applies  particularly  to  the  middle  classes 
and  to  the  Copts.” 

Such  words  of  commendation  as  these  came  often  to  Mr. 
Pressly,  concerning  the  work  which  his  money  was  doing  at 
Assuit. 

Mr.  Pressly  also  rejoiced  in  the  good  use  made  of  his 
gifts  at  home.  He  saw  the  college  which  he  had  helped  in  the 
day  of  its  greatest  need  become  the  leading  college  of  his  church, 
with  its  graduates  widely  known  in  her  pulpits,  in  her  missions 
and  in  all  the  walks  of  life.  For  years  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  he  read  in  each  successive  catalogue  of  the  college  this 
statement  of  how  he  had  helped  the  college  through  a library 
for  all  this  community;  “Few  institutions  afford  library  privil- 
eges superior  to  those  of  Monmouth  College.  Through  the  lib- 
erality of  Mr.  W.  P.  Pressly  the  Warren  County  Library  was  es- 
tablished in  1870.  This  is  as  carefully  selected  a library  as  can 
be  found  in  the  west.” 

He  saw  branches  of  that  library  started  in  the  country, 
where  he  intended  it  to  be  used  as  much  as  in  town.  His  pur- 
pose as  to  the  department  which  he  endowed  he  saw  faithfully 
adhered  to.  The  statement  was  made  by  his  pastor,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Burnett  in  his  funeral  address:  “It  was  his  desire,  which  desire 
has  been  fully  carried  out,  that  this  should  be  a people’s  library, 


10 


where  the  many  could  be  accommodated  in  their  literary  tastes.” 

In  health  and  in  sickness,  in  active  life  and  in  the  lonely 
days  of  advanced  old  age,  Mr.  Pressly  has  often  expressed  his 
great  satisfaction  with  the  work  done  by  his  gifts.  While  his 
health  allowed,  he  was  daily  in  the  reading  room.  Almost  the 
last  time  that  he  was  there  he  said  to  one  of  the  trustees.  ‘I 
thank  God  that  I was  led  to  build  this  building.’ 

Mr.  Pressly  was  a thoroughly  religious  man.  He  had 
a remarkable  ability  in  apt  quotation  of  Scripture.  During  the 
last  two  yearrs  of  his  life  his  mind  was  enfeebled  and  darkened. 
He  did  not  know  his  most  intimate  friends.  But  he  knew  his 
Bible  with  wonderful  accuracy. 

His  was  a religion  of  devotion,  of  practical  beneficence, 
of  liberal  fellowship  and  humanity.  He  honored  all  men.  He 
was  a devoted  United  Presbyterian.  For  some  years  he  was 
a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  on  a count  of  his  affec- 
tion for  Dr.  R.  C.  Matthews.  He  taught  for  yearrs,  a Bible  class 
in  the  Methodist  Sunday  School.  Some  of  Us  intimate  friends 
were  Catholics.  He  stated  that  he  wished  CaihoUe  books  bought 
for  the  library,  in  proportion  as  they  are  read.  This  is,  of  course, 
the  usual  custom  of  public  libraries.  Mr.  Pressly  esteemed  true 
men  outside  of  all  church  lines.  At  the  funeral  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  J.  W.  Scott,  whom  he  had  known  long  as  a pioneer  business 
man  of  Monmouth,  he  was  asked  to  say  a few  words.  He  began 
“It  has  been  said  that  an  honest  man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God. 
Mr.  Scott  was  that  man.’' 

Such  were  the  broad  sympathies  of  him  who  gave  to 
this  community  an  institution  which  is  for  all. 

Mr.  Pressly ’s  sterling  character  and  rr re  practical  ability 
was  recognized  and  honored.  He  was  made  a Trustee  of  Mon- 
mouth College  in  1859  when  he  first  came  to  this  city.  He  was 
one  of  its  directors  during  forty-four  years.  For  most  of  that 
time  he  was  an  elder  of  the  First  United  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion. He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for  several 
years  and  was  once  a delegate  to  its  General  Assembly.  He  was 
the  president  of  the  Warren  County  Library  and  Reading  Room 
Association  from  1870  to  1903. 


11 


At  his  funeral  all  classes  did  him  honor.  The  circuit 
court,  then  in  session,  adjourned  and  the  members  of  the  bar 
attended  in  a body.  Eloquent  and  appreciative  addresses  were 
made  by  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Burnett,  pastor  of  the  First  United  Pres- 
byterian church,  Dr.  T.  H.  McMichael,  president  of  Monmouth 
College  and  Hon.  R.  J.  Grier,  judge  of  the  circuit  court.  These 
addresses  are  printed  herewith.  They  are  the  words  of  men  who 
knew  of  what  they  did  testify  concerning  a most  beneficent  life. 

Outline  of  Address  by  Rev.  John  A.  Burnett,  Pastor  First  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  Monmouth,  111. 

As  quietly  and  peacefully  as  the  darkness  of  night  is  dis- 
pelled by  the  gray  of  the  morning,  which  in  turn  is  followed  by 
the  full  glory  of  the  rising  sun;  as  unobserved  as  the  river  min- 
gles its  waters  with  the  sea  into  which  it  flows,  this  father  in 
Israel  passed  from  the  scenes  of  this  life  to  the  glory  of  the  life 
everlasting.  I did  not  know  him  as  most  of  you  knew  him.  Dur- 
ing my  residence  of  thirteen  months  in  this  city  I visited  him 
many  times,  but  his  mental  condition  was  such  that  it  has  been 
only  within  the  past  two  weeks  that  he  has  realized  who  I was. 
1 can  only  therefore,  speak  in  a general  way  of  tn'm,  and  endeavor 
to  bring  to  you  the  leading  elements  of  his  character  as  I have 
learned  of  his  life  from  others.  The  one  thing  that  has  impressed 
me  above  all  else  is  the  marvelous  visions  of  this  life.  Mr. 
Pressly  was  born  in  1811,  and  from  the  time  of  his  ability  to 
fully  appreciate  things  about  him,  on  for  a period  of  about  sev- 
enty five  years,  he  has  witnessed  wonderful  transformations  in 
scientific  development,  in  the  material,  commercial  and  social 
progress  of  our  country.  He  has  been ‘face  to  faoe  with  the 
events  of  three  wars.  He  was  most  closely  identified  with  the 
conflict  from  which  resulted  the  firmer  union  of  the  country,  for 
he  had  given  his  only  son,  whose  life  was  sacrificed  at  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg.  Each  new  year  of  the  century  in  which  he  lived 
gave  a new  and  wonderful  vision  of  human  progress. 

Concerning  his  character  there  are  some  things  that  im- 
press us  deeply:  1.  He  was  a good  man.  Good  in  the  real  sense 
as  revealing  this  qualities  of  life  that  grow  out  of  a true  heart. 


12 


Good  as  Barnabos  was  good,  who  was  “full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
of  faith.”  Good  as  Jehoiada  the  priest  was  good,,  concerning 
whom  it  is  written,  “he  had  done  good  in  Israel.”  Such  good- 
ness indeed  as  comes  out  of  the  diviner  life  within  and  draw** 
its  power  from  Him  who  was  good  in  the  largest  and  best  sense 
of  which  earth  or  heaven  has  thought.  No  talent,  no  philanthro- 
py can  enable  use  to  do  good  without  the  faith  that  worketh  by 
love.  His  faith  was  abounding;  it  was  as  simple  as  that  of  a 
child ; it  was  trustful  and  hopeful.  Such  goodness  as  he  possessed 
you  and  I may  emulate. 

2.  He  loved  the  Church  and  was  deeply  interested  in  its 
welfare.  Two  weeks  ago  I went  into  his  room  and  said,  “Mr. 
Pressly,  do  you  know  me?’  “Yes,”  he  replied,  “you  are  the 
clergyman,  and  I want  to  say  to  you  that  you  need  never  be 
ashamed  of  your  calling.”  For  a number  of  years  he  had  been 
an  elder  in  this  congregation,  also  a teacher  in  the  Sabbath 
school,  and  for  a time  its  superintendent.  Truly  “he  loved  our 
church,”  being  interested  not  only  in  the  local  work,  but  in  all 
that  touched  the  church’s  life  in  this  country  and  in  the  mission 
fields.  He  was  born  in  a Christian  home  at  a time  when  the 
church  was  more  and  meant  more  to  its  members  than  it  does 
today.  The  whole  atmosphere  of  his  life  was  about  the  church. 
Here  the  life  caught  its  inspirations ; here  reverence  was  deep- 
ened; here  everything  centered  that  touched  the  religious  and 
spiritual  life.  His  brother,  Dr.  John  T.  Pressly,  was  one  of  the 
most  influential  leaders  of  the  church  in  his  day. 

Nor  was  his  vision  narrowed  by  the  limits  of  the  congrega- 
tion or  even  of  the  church  in  this  country,  it  was  broadened  to 
the  needs  of  Egypt  where  the  United  Presbyterian  church  was 
endeavoring  to  uplift  humanity.  Just  eight  years  and  three 
months  ago  today,  at  this  very  hour,  I delivered  an  address  in 
the  U.  P.  Home  for  the  Aged,  Wilkinsburg,  Pa.,  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Pittsburgh  Ministerial  Association  at  the  funeral  of 
Miss  Martha  J.  McKown.  It  was  she  who  interested  Mr.  Pressly 
in  the  girls’  school  in  Assiut,  Egypt.  Concerning  this  the  fol- 
lowing is  written  in  a brief  sketch  of  Miss  McKown ’s  life.  “Miss 
McKown  went  home  (1881)  nominally  to  rest,  but  really  to  bend 


13 


every  energy  towards  securing  funds  for  building*  * * * Love 
for  the  school  carried  Miss  McKown  through  many  an  arduous 
task  during  her  year  and  a half  in  America.  It  was  a day  when 
kope  was  at  the  ebb  and  the  sky  had  lost  its  rose  tints  that  she 
called  at  the  home  of  Mr.  William  Pressly,  of  Monmouth.  That 
day  was  painted  in  most  vivid  colors  in  the  picture  gallery  of 
Miss  McKown ’s  memory.  It  was  no  wonder  that  she  liked  to  re- 
call it.  Even  to  the  listener  it  made  a striking  picture,  in  which 
the  simplicity  of  Mr.  Pressly ’s  character  and  surroundings 
brought  into  strong  relief  the  magnificence  of  his  self-sacrificing 
generosity. 

Mr.  Pressly ’s  response  to  Miss  McKown ’s  plea  was  a 
gift  of  $10,000,  of  which  half  was  to  be  spent  on  the  new  build- 
ing and  the  remainder  was  to  constitute  a fund  to  aid  in  sup- 
porting pupils  too  poor  to  defray  the  entire  expenses  of  their 
board  and  education.  With  the  moneys  secured  from  other 
sources,  this  magnificent  donation  seemed  to  sweep  away  every 
remaining  difficulty,  and  it  was  with  a full  heart  that  Miss  Mc- 
Kown christened  the  girls’  college  of  the  future  the  Pressly 
Memorial  Institute. 

3.  Mr.  Pressly  was  practically  benevolent.  Concerning 
the  above  gift,  Professor  T.  H.  Rogers,  a personal  friend  and  ad- 
viser of  Mr.  Pressly,  tells  me  that  when  he  was  considering  this 
gift  he  talked  the  matter  over  with  him,  and  this  was  the 
thought  expressed,  “When  I kept  store  in  Hamilton,  Ohio,  I had 
a German  clerk  and  he  could  sell  to  the  Germans  of  that  place, 
of  whom  there  were  many,  three  times  as  many  goods  as  I.”  So, 
he  argued,  natives  prepared  for  the  work  could  do  infinitely  more 
for  their  people  than  the  missionaries  and  teachers  sent  out  from 
y.  Thus  twenty  four  years  ago  Mr.  Pressly  acted  up- 
on the  thought  which  is  the  established  policy  of  the  Foreign 
Mission  Boards  of  all  the  churches  today.  But  this  was  not  all 
he  did  for  the  Church  in  Egypt.  In  the  historical  sermon 
preached  by  Dr.  Alexander  Young  one  of  the  early  pastors  of 
this  church,  at  the  time  the  congregation  entered  the  present 
building,  the  following  is  recorded,  “William  P.  Pressly,  by 
careful  attention  to  business  and  strict  honesty  in  all  his  dealings, 


14 


was  financially  prospered.  The  college  and  congregation  are  in- 
debted to  his  liberality  in  a commendable  degree,  but  the  Warrer 
County  Library  stands,  largely  through  him,  as  an  institution  of 
lasting  benefit  to  the  citizens  of  Monmouth,  and  the  provision 
made  for  its  continuance  and  increasing  influence,  deserves  the 
gratitude  of  all  who  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  liberality;  and,  with 
the  divine  blessing,  succeeding  generations  may  thankfully  re- 
joice.” 

Our  whole  Church  has  special  cause  to  be  thankful  for 
another  institution.  Perhaps  in  February,  1872,  (nine  years  be- 
fore the  above  gift)  Mr.  Pressly  said,  “How  can  money  be  used 
just  now  for  the  best  interests  of  the  Church?”  Several  objects 
were  needing  help,  but  the  opinion  was  expressed  that  our  mis- 
sion in  Egypt  was,  at  least,  a deserving  field ; and  as  Dr.  Hogg  of 
that  mission  expected  to  visit  our  General  Assembly  in  Washing- 
ton, Iowa,  in  May,  he  could  consult  him  respecting  Egypt.  The 
result  was  a donation  of  ten  thousand  dollars  in  gold(  and  gold 
was  at  a premium  of  about  twenty  per  cent  at  that  time)  to  found 
a college  at  Assiut,  for  training  young  men  for  the  ministry,  and 
both  men  and  women  as  missionaries  and  teachers  ’in  other  lines 
of  usefulness. 

In  more  recent  years  about  two  thousand  dollars  have 
been  given,  making  a total  (with  the  gold  premium)  of  about 
twenty  four  thousand  dollars  to  the  Egyptian  mission. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  Monmouth  College,  and  gave 
seven  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Iowa  to  that  institution.  In  1870 
he  founded  the  Warren  County  Library  into  which  he  has  put 
nearly  twenty  five  thousand  dollars.  In  this,  as  in  his  other  gifts, 
is  seen  the  practicalness  of  his  benevolence.  It  was  his  desire, 
which  desire  has  been  fully  carried  out,  that  this  should  be  a 
people’s  library,  a place  where  the  many,  and  not  the  few,  could 
be  accommodated  in  their  literary  tastes.  Thus  so  long  as  peo- 
ple read  and  think  Mr.  Pressly  will  be  known  and  honored  in 
this  city. 

For  more  than  a generation  his  money  has  been  doing 
good,  and  how  much  more — infinitely  more — this  has  accom- 
plished than  if  he  had  waited  to  have  disposed  of  his  accumula- 


15 


tions  at  his  death.  What  satisfaction  must  have  come  to  him 
in  the  reflex  blessings  of  his  continued  thoughtfulness  and  benev- 
olence. 

We  are  here,  then,  to  honor  the  memory  of  him  who  has 
woven  his  name  in  gracious  benedictions  into  the  life  of  the 
church  and  of  this  city.  Throughout  this  community,  and  to 
far  off  Egypt,  the  influences  he  exerted  have  flowed  in  abundant 
blessing.  He  rests  in  peace  and  it  becomes  us  to  imitate  him  in 
so  far  as  his  life  followed  the  thought  and  life  of  Him,  whom 
lie  served  so  faithfully. 

Remarks  by  T.  H.  McMichael,  D.  D.,  President  of  Monmouth 

College. 

It  is  mine  this  afternoon  to  bring  to  this  service  the  tribute 
of  Monmouth  College.  Monmouth  College  stands  indebted  to 
William  Pressly  and  desires  here  to  acknowledge  this  endebted- 
ness.  He  was  her  friend  at  a time  when  friendship  meant  much 
to  her  and  to  her  future.  For  forty-four  years  he  was  connected 
with  her  in  an  official  way.  This  is  longer  than  anyone  else  has 
ever  been  connected  with  her  history.  It  is  longer,  I dare  sav. 
than  anyone  will  ever  be  connected  with  her  again.  All  but  five 
of  our  forty-eight  catalogues  have  contained  his  name.  In  look- 
ing over  the  list  of  trustees  for  1859,  I find  that  with  Mr.  Press- 
ly’s  passing,  one  only  remains.  Mr.  Truman  Eldridge  of 
Roseville.  Of  the  twenty-five  all  the  others  have  long  passed 
from  the  scenes  of  their  earthly  labors. 

You  have  often  looked  out  over  a clearing  from  which  all 
the  trees  have  been  cut  save  one  or  two.  These  stand  rugged 
storm-torn,  and  lonely,  defying  the  blasts,  long  after  tneir 
panions  have  gone  down.  And  so  Mr.  Pressly  was  one  who  long 
survived  the  companions  of  his  early  and  his  middle  life.  Of 
those  who  had  stood  with  him  in  his  noble  enterprises,  he  was 
for  years  almost  the  sole  survivor.  There  is  something  pathetic 
in  such  a sight,  and  yet  something  suggestive  and  almost  magnif- 
icent. 

How  fast  the  older  generation,  the  generation  that  made 


16 


the  city  and  the  college,  have  been  going  from  us!  Within  the 
two  short  years  in  which  I have  stood  in  official  relation  to  Mon- 
mouth College,  four  of  the  old  guard  have  gone,  I.  M.  Kirk- 
patrick, Judge  J.  J.  Glenn,  Draper  Babcock,  and  now  the  oldest 
of  them  all  in  point  of  age  and  service,  William  Pressly.  How 
much  the  city  owes  to  such  men  as  these,'  the  old  guard  that 
stood  by  the  College  in  the  days  of  her  infancy ! It  was  because 
of  the  energy  and  self-sacrifice  they  put  into  her  life,  it  was 
because  of  what  they  did  and  what  they  gave,  that  she  stands 
today  as  one  of  the  institutions  that  makes  for  the  betterment 
of  the  city  and  the  community. 

As  has  already  been  mentioned  in  this  service,  William 
Pressly ’s  purse  was  open  for  Monmouth  College.  She  shared 
in  his  beneficence  at  a time  in  her  history  when  financial  help 
was  needed,  and  when  it  meant  much  to  her  life.  To  many  of  us 
there  comes  the  memory  of  Mr.  Pressly  as  we  used  to  see  his 
familiar  figure  upon  our  streets.  He  had  his  peculiarities  and 
his  oddities,  and  as  we  marked  these  we  did  not  always  think, 
perhaps,  of  the  greatness  of  the  man.  But  he  was  great  in  the 
c-  ary  truest  sense.  He  was  one  of  this  old  world ’s  noblemen,  and 
lias  left  it  better  because  he  lived  in  it. 

“ O ! never  a sun  like  his  went  out 
Or  faded  behind  some  hill, 

But  the  lingering  sky  shone  all  about 
With  the  joy  of  its  radiance  still.”. 

Yes,  this  shadowed  world  is  still  kissed  by  the  joy  of  the 
radiance  of  his  quiet,  unostentatious  life.  Yonder  in  Egypt  that 
radiance  still  lingers  in  the  Pressly  Memorial  Institute ; here  in 
our  own  city  it  abides  in  the  Pressly  Library,  and  yonder  at  the 
College  in  the  Pressly  Professorship  of  Chemistry  and  Physics. 
Monmouth  College  stands  indebted  to  him.  Monmouth  College 
wishes  to  acknowledge  this  indebtedness  and  to  join  with  you, 
his  fellow-citizens,  in  doing  honor  to  his  memory. 


17 


Address  of  Hon.  R.  J.  Grier,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court. 

It  is  mine  today,  as  a citizen  of  this  community,  and  in 
its  behalf,  to  pay  tribute  to  the  departed  for  benefits  conferred. 

A grateful  people  honor  and  mourn  those  who  have  been 
public  benefactors.  It  may  be  that  “he  too  serves  who  only 
stands  and  waits,  ’ ’ but  the  affections  of  the  people  go  out  to  him 
who  has  been  mindful  of  their  welfare,  and  active  for  their  good. 

Loving  friends  weep,  and  mourn  the  loss  of  a dear  one 
they  will  see  no  more.  The  rending  of  the  tender  ties  of  affec- 
tion entails  anguish  and  grief  upon  those  near  and  dear.  The 
darkened  room — the  sable  garb — the  tear-stained  eye,  tell  a tale 
of  sorrow  and  bereavement.  But  besides  the  grief  of  friends,  the 
passing  of  one  who  has  been  a public  benefactor,  one  whose 
humanitarian  heart  has  gone  out  in  love  and  good  works  for 
the  betterment  of  his  kind,  casts  a gloom  of  sadness  over  the 
community,  and  the  busy,  striving,  absorbed,  but  grateful  pub- 
lic stop  to  acknowledge  their  indebtedness  of  gratitude,  and  pay 
their  tribute  of  respect  and  appreciation  to  the  departed. 

Father  Pressly  was  a man  of  the  common  people.  He 
sprang  from  them,  and  he  was  of  them.  His  life  was  with  them 
and  his  thought  was  for  them.  Humble  in  his  tastes  and  simple 
in  his  life,  he  was  of  the  masses,  yet  none,  respectable,  were  so 
poor  as  to  be  beneath  him,  and  by  reason  of  his  endowments, 
his  honesty  and  the  purity  of  his  life,  none  were  so  great  as  to 
be  above  him. 

It  is  no  fulsome  praise  to  say  he  was  a humanitarian  in 
the  largest  sense.  His  thought  was  for  the  betterment  of  the 
people.  The  dream  and  ambition  of  his  life  was  the  elevation  of 
the  masses.  For  them  he  strove  and  saved  and  built,  and  to 
them  he  dedicated  the  energies  and  savings  of  his  life.  The 
foundations  of  the  monument  which  he  promoted,  and  founded, 
and  which  he  has  left  in  this  community,  were  laid  in  the  love 
of  humanity,  and  an  anxious  solicitude  for  their  welfare.  While 
others  established  libraries  for  the  learned  and  the  select,  he  es- 
tablished his  for  all.  I am  advised  that  the  building  which 
his  generosity  has  dedicated  in  this  city,  is  the  first  in  this  state, 


18 


to  be  erected  and  dedicated  to  the  use  of  a public  library.  His 
generosity  and  the  scope  of  his  scheme  knew  no  caste.  The  poor 
and  the  rich,  the  learned  and  the  unlearned,  the  erudite  and 
the  simple,  the  adult  and  the  child,  were  alike  welcome  to  his 
benefaction.  It  was  his  purpose  that  the  opportunity  and  induce* 
ment  for  information,  betterment,  and  enjoyment  should  be  open 
equally  to  all. 

The  great  body  of  this  people  were  by  him  made  heirs 
and  beneficiaries  to  the  investigation,  the  discovery,  the  thought, 
and  the  literary  talent  of  the  ages.  The  chronicles  of  his* 
torian — the  reasoning  and  deductions  of  the  philosopher — the 
researches  and  discoveries  of  the  scientist— the  flowers  and  songs 
of  the  poets — the  story  of  the  novelist — were  brought  by  his 
beneficence  and  placed  at  the  hand  of  every  member  of  this 
community. 

For  the  simple  choosing  they  were  made  the  student  o z 
the  companion,  not  only  of  the  current  thought  of  the  day,  but 
of  the  bright  and  illustrious  minds  of  the  past.  With  its  treas- 
ured wealth  of  learning  and  literature,  his  gift  has  made  the  bril- 
liant authors  of  every  land  and  every  time,  the  household  and 
fireside  companions  of  every  family  and  person  in  Warren  Coun- 
ty who  will  accept  and  associate  with  them.  With  this  library 
at  command,  no  person  has  right  to  complain  of  their  moral  or 
intellectual  surroundings — their  companions  are  of  their  own 
choosing.  Such  an  institution  is  a fixed  society,  whose  atmos- 
phere is  a constantly  applied  influence  for  the  elevation  and  re- 
finement of  all  those  within  the  radius  of  its  influence. 

Father  Pressly  is  gone — his  personal  efforts  are  ended — 
he  lived  to  see  the  ambition  of  his  life  realized. 

His  toil  and  saving  and  industry  bore  fruit  to  his  eyes, 
and  his  philanthropic  heart  was  gladdened  by  the  result  of  his 
efforts. 

The  first  concrete  idea  of  a public  library  in  this  com- 
munity took  form  on  January  12th,  1836,  in  the  very  infancy  of 
the  county.  It  died  before  maturity.  It  was  revived  in  1868, 
but  not  until  1870,  when  Mr.  Pressly  came  to  the  rescue  and 


19 


shouldered  the  burden,  did  the  scheme  give  promise  of  success. 
When  he  gave  it  a local  habitation  in  the  building  it  now  oc- 
cupies, and  an  income  from  the  savings  of  his  life,  then  did  it 
first  become  in  fact  an  institution  of  the  community  in  perpetui- 
ty. I would  not,  for  an  instant,  detract  one  iota  from  the  credit 
and  praise  due  those  who  so  ably  and  persistently,  with  time 
and  energy  and  money  and  ability,  have  seconded  and  furthered 
the  efforts  to  establish  and  maintain  this  institution,  and  carry  it 
to  success,  but  to  him  whose  body  lies  here  today  undoubtedly 
belongs  the  credit  of  having  made  possible  this  great  power  for 
good,  for  which  this  community  is  so  deeply  indebted. 

His  purpose  and  thought  is  best  given  in  his  own  words, 
published  in  the  city  papers  before  he  built  the  building. 

LIBRARY  AND  READING  ROOM. 

Mr.  Editor:  As  there  exists  a wrong  idea  in  regard  to  the  con- 
templated Library  and  Reading,  Room,  permit  us  (by  request  of  others) 
briefly  to  state  that,  as  the  case  onw  stands,  it  is  proposed  to  erect  a two- 
story  brick  building  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square,  that  being  the 
most  eligible  site,  everything  considered,  that  could  at  present  be  ob- 
tained; said  building  to  be  near  42x70  or  75  feet,  containing  two  business 
rooms  in  the  basement  and  one  above;  the  rent  of  the  lower  rooms  to 
be  used  in  sustaining  the  property  and  furnishing,  from  year  to  year, 
a fresh  supply  of  reading  matter  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  upper  room. 
The  building  first  contemplated  might  have  accommodated  the  citizens 
of  this  place,  but  inasmuch  as  under  God  we  are  principally  indebted 
to  the  citizens  of  the  country  for  the  means  to  be  used  in  its  construc- 
tion, if  for  no  higher  motive,  gratitude  towards  them  bids  us  now  remem- 
ber them  as  a party  to  be  benefitted,  and  thus  made  a party  interested  in 
patronizing  and  sustaining  their  own  institution,  in  common  with  the 
citizens  of  this  place;  hence,  the  present  plan  was  adopted,  which,  it  i& 
hoped,  may  prove  amply  sufficient  for  the  use  designed  for  years  to  come. 
We  trust  that  as  we  become  educated  as  to  the  real  value  of  a Library  and 
Reading  Room  in  our  own  midst,  it  may  gradually  increase  in  its  effi- 
ciency for  good,  and  ultimately  become  an  oasis  where  many  a weary 
pilgrim  may  obtain  refreshment  long  after  its  projectors,  and  the  present 
Board  of  Trust,  shall  have  passed  away. 

“O  all  the  pleasures  noble  and  refined 
Which  form  the  taste  and  cultivate  the  mind, 

The  ‘feast  of  reason,’  which  from  reading  springs, 

To  reasoning  man  the  highest  solace  brings. 


20 


’Tis  books  a lasting  pleasure  can  supply — 

Charm  while  we  live,  and  teach  us  how  to  die.*" 

W.  P.  PRESSLY. 

Father  Pressly  has  gone  from  us  in  life,  he  is  about  to  go 
hom  us  in  flesh,  but  his  great  work  will  remain  with  us,  and  the 
spirit  in  which  it  was  given,  will  continue  to  exert  its  subtle 
influences  among  the  people  and  bear  its  fruits  in  the  greater  in- 
telligence and  in  the  higher  and  purer  lives  of  the  people. 


12  098700526 


